Ligeophila
Ligeophila stigmatoptera
Ligeophila is a genus of the orchid family ( Orchidaceae). It consists of 12 species of herbaceous plants that are native to tropical America.
Description
The species of the genus Ligeophila form a rhizome, which is rooted at the nodes. The roots are fleshy and hairy. The rhizome consists ascending continued as a leafy shoot. The leaves are lanceolate to oval, the leaf base includes the shoot.
The terminal, racemose inflorescence usually carries many, closely spaced seated flowers. The inflorescence axis is bald or hairy and is comprised of a few high leaves. The bracts are about as long as ovary and the short pedicel together. The flowers are 'upside, the petals are free. The three sepals are about the same shape and the same size, hairy on the outside. The lateral petals are close to the upper Petal and form a tube or hood. The lip forms a spur at the base. The lip is divided into two parts: the basal part, the Hypochil is slightly bowl-shaped, the front part, the Epichil is bilobed and spread. On the Hypochil, before the entrance to the spur, there are two longitudinal, fleshy fins. The stamen contains two club-shaped pollinia, which are connected by stalks ( Caudiculae ) with the large viscid disc ( Viscidium ). The scar consists of two separate surfaces. The separation between scar tissue and stamen ( rostellum ) is large, triangular, bilobed at the tip. It is hinged and is held by the stems of the pollinia so that the scar is hidden. If the pollinia removed, the rostellum flap upward and returns the stigmatic surfaces free.
Occurrence
Ligeophila is widespread in tropical America. In the north of Mexico is still inhabited, in the south of the area stretches as far as Paraguay and into northern Argentina. The species grow in the humus layer of wet forests at altitudes of 600 meters.
Systematics and botanical history
Ligeophila is classified within the tribe Cranichideae in the subtribe Goodyerinae. After Dressler can this be further subdivided into two groups; Ligeophila stands together with the majority of species which do not have two clearly separate stigmatic surfaces, in contrast to the description of Ormerod and Cribb, after which the stigmatic surfaces are clearly separated.
The genus Ligeophila was established by Leslie Garay 1977. The species had been expected to go to the genus Erythrodes. As type species he chose Ligeophila stigmatoptera. The name comes from the Greek ingredients λυγαῖος lyge, "shadow", and φίλος philo, " loving", together; refers to the preferred locations of the plant.
12 species are counted to Ligeophila:
- Ligeophila amazonica Garay
- Ligeophila bicornuta ( Cogn. ) Garay
- Ligeophila clavigera ( Rchb.f. ) Garay
- Ligeophila jamesonii Garay
- Ligeophila longibracteata Soroka
- Ligeophila lutea Garay
- Ligeophila macarenae Ormerod
- Ligeophila peteriana ( Cogn. ) Garay
- Ligeophila rosea ( Lindl. ) Garay
- Ligeophila stigmatoptera ( Rchb.f. ) Garay
- Ligeophila umbraticola Garay